Nallur Chariot festival today

(August 19,Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Annual Chariot festival of Nallur Kandaswamy (Murugan) Temple, Jaffna will take place today, 19 August Wednesday.

The annual festival of the historic Nallur Kandasamy Temple in Jaffna began on 27 July with the Sacred Flag hoisting ceremony (Kodi Yetram). The Nallur Festival starts six days after the arrival of the new moon annually. The festival continues for 26 days. The Chariot Festival takes place on the 24th day.

The curfew in Jaffna has been relaxed for today and tomorrow in view of the today's Chariot festival and tomorrow's Water cutting festival. As the curfew been relaxed Northern Province transport board has arranged special bus services starting from morning 4 am from all bus deports.

Nallur Kandasamy Kovil Festival is a major event in the Hindu calendar and is attended by many devotees from different parts of the country. Chariot and water cutting festivals are the peak of all festivals and more devotees are expected to participate for these festivals. Northern transport board has opened a temporary bus stand at Muthiraichanthi to facilitate the devotees.

The history of the Nallur temple is closely intertwined with the history of Jaffna. Historians say that the Temple was originally constructed in a place called Kurukal Valavu in A.D 948. The temple was destroyed in AD 1450 during the invasion of the King Shenpakaperumal (Sapumal Kumaraya) from South.

The same king resurrected the temple and the environments in Muthiraichanthai in 1467. The temple was again destroyed at its foundation by Portugese commander Philip De Olivereira in 1621. The Dutch rebuilt a Christian Church at the same premises. In around 1734 Krishnaiyar Suppier established a smaller shrine in Muthiraichanthi in rememberance of the destroyed Kandaswami temple. Today it stands as the glorious icon of hindu culture in Jaffna.

Devotees all over Jaffna irrespective of caste, creed and community throng Nallur temple during the festival season expecting a change from despair to hope.

-Sri Lanka Guardian